Governor signs HIV-testing legislation

SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed legislation Wednesday designed to make HIV testing a routine part of medical care

STATE CAPITOL BUREAU

SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed legislation Wednesday designed to make HIV testing a routine part of medical care.

Senate Bill 929 will allow medical professionals to test for HIV with verbal consent from patients. Under current law, tests can only be administered after written consent.

The intent of the legislation is to increase the number of HIV tests and to foster further awareness of HIV-AIDS. Similar action in San Francisco resulted in a marked increase in tests in that area, according to the governor’s office.

The new law will take effect June 1, 2008. It was sponsored by Sen. Carol Ronen, D-Chicago, and Rep. LaShawn Ford, D-Chicago.

“We’ll be able to help people who test positive receive proper care earlier than they may have in the past and help reduce the spread of HIV,” Blagojevich said in a written statement.